Where a society has chosen to accept democracy as its creedal faith, it is elementary that the citizens ought to know what their government is doing: Justice P N Bhagwati
In a significant step towards promoting transparency and accountability in governance, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah launched the Online Right to Information (RTI) Portal today (10/01/2025) at Civil Secretariat, Jammu. This initiative aims to empower citizens by simplifying the process of seeking information from government departments and ensuring timely responses to their queries. The online RTI portal is a revolutionary step that reaffirms a commitment to good governance. It will make the RTI process more accessible, efficient, and transparent, enabling citizens to actively participate in the democratic process.
Features of the Online RTI Portal
The newly launched portal provides a user-friendly interface where individuals can: file RTI applications online from anywhere, track the status of their applications in real-time, receive responses digitally which reduces delays caused by manual processes, and access guidelines and FAQs to assist first-time users.
A unique feature of the portal is the issuance of a registration number to applicants via SMS and email for future reference, enabling easy tracking of RTI applications. The portal integrates 61 government departments, 272 nodal officers/public authorities, 720 First Appellate Authorities (FAAs), and 3,419 Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs) and Public Information Officers (PIOs), ensuring comprehensive coverage and making the citizens informed about the activities of the Government. It also supports digital payment options for RTI application fees, making the process convenient for citizens.
Historical Background
The Right to Information is a fundamental right under Article 19 (1) of the Indian Constitution. In 1976, in the Raj Narain vs the State of Uttar Pradesh case, the Supreme Court ruled that the Right to information will be treated as a fundamental right under Article 19. The Supreme Court held that in Indian democracy, people are the masters and they have the right to know about the workings of the government. Thus, the government enacted the Right to Information Act in 2005 which provides machinery for exercising this fundamental right.
Right to Information Act 2005
The date of 12th October 2005 shall be remembered as a new era of empowerment for the common man in India. This law was passed by Parliament on 15th June 2005 and came fully into force on 12th October 2005.The basic object of the Right to Information Act is to empower the citizens, promote transparency and accountability in the working of the Government, contain corruption, and make our democracy work for the people in a real sense. It goes without saying that an informed citizen is better equipped to keep necessary vigil on the instruments of governance and make the government more accountable to the governed. The Act is a big step towards making the citizens informed about the activities of the Government.
Significance of Right to Information
Empowering Citizens
Every citizen has the right to request information from a public authority. The online RTI portal is expected to particularly benefit residents of remote and far-flung areas of Jammu and Kashmir, where physical access to government offices is often challenging. By leveraging digital technology, the government aims to address the grievances of citizens more effectively and foster a culture of accountability. The RTI Act empowers citizens by providing them with the right to access information that is essential for their daily lives, such as information related to health, education, and social welfare. Citizens can use the information obtained through the act to hold public authorities accountable for their actions and decisions. The act redefines the concept of accountability by empowering citizens to play an active role in monitoring the actions and decisions of public authorities.
Transparency
The RTI Act has significantly increased transparency in government operations by mandating timely information disclosure. This shift towards openness allows citizens to scrutinize and understand government actions and decisions.
Accountability
Public authorities are required to justify their actions and decisions when requested by the public.RTI Act has been instrumental in uncovering instances of corruption and inefficiency. This accountability is pivotal for good governance and public trust.
A Milestone for Good Governance
The launch of this portal aligns with the government’s broader vision of e-governance and digital empowerment. Analysts and civil society groups have lauded the initiative, calling it a much-needed reform to strengthen the RTI mechanism in the UT. The Chief Minister also urged the concerned authorities to ensure widespread publicity of the initiative so that citizens across Jammu & Kashmir become aware of its benefits. Now citizens can actively utilize the portal. Without good governance, no amount of developmental schemes can bring improvements in the quality of life of the citizens.
Good governance has four elements:
Transparency
Accountability
Predictability
Participation
Right to information is the basic necessity of good governance. Good governance and the right to information are complementary to each other. The online RTI portal marks a new chapter in Jammu and Kashmir’s governance. It is a testament to the power of technology in fostering transparency and building trust between the government and the people.
Conclusion
The launch of the Online RTI portal in Jammu and Kashmir marks a transformative step in making governance more citizen-centric and transparent. By simplifying access to information, the portal empowers people to actively engage with government processes and hold authorities accountable. This initiative reflects the government’s dedication to ensuring that every citizen, regardless of their location, can exercise their right to information without hurdles. It is a bold stride towards strengthening democracy and fostering trust between the administration and the public.
Aarif Maqbool
co******************@***oo.com